Automatic firearm.



Patented .Ilme- 22, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' II. BECKER.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 21, 1914.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5MM/W vthe breech piece to its rear position.

anuncia) Beeren, pr mirata, GERMANY.

venature msnm.

Speoication Vof Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1915.

appunti@ fue@ caoba- 2'1, 191g. `serai Nq. stessa..

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RmNHoLp Beckum' a subject of the German Emperor, residing at 45 Deutscher Ring, Krefeld, Germany, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Automatic Firearms, f which the following is a specification,

This invention relates to automatic firearms in which the breech piece is not locked in its forward position but is released from its rear position and projected forwardly on actuating the trigger, the object of the invention being to overcome the drawbacks of the known automatic fire-arms of this type.

' The aforesaid drawbacks consisted in that a considerable recoil was still perceptible and, where there was a strong powder charge, the cartridge case easily urst dur-l ing the firin of the shot. These defects are due to thev act that the firing of the cartridges does not take place until the breech piece has reached the cartridge chamber. The explosive energy of the powder gases in such cases thus reacts with its full force on the breech-piece and produces the objectionably heavy recoil. v Morcover, if th'e cartridge case is withdrawn from the cartridge chamber immediately after igniting the charge, as is usually the case, the cartridge case is no longer inclosed and consequently tears, On account of these defects only small-caliber fire-arms have hitherto been constructed to load automatically,

According to the present invention, the

cartridge chamber isprovided with an extension adapted to receive a plunger on the end of the breech piece w en the latter moves forward. The ignition is adapted to take place before the breech piece reaches its foremost position, that is to say, when it possesses its greatest kinetic energy, and' by virtue of its kinetic energy, and thus insures an absolutely gas-tight closure'of` the rear end of the barrel and reduces the recoil, which is then only sufficient to retrn he cartridge case is at the same time inclosed in the cartridge chamber so that the rearwardly-acting gas pressure cannot burst it. When the shot has left the barrel the gas pressure in the barrel is destroyed and the cartrid e ease `can then bevwithdrawn from the car aged. a

The ignition, as already stated, takes place before the breech piece has ended-its forward'movement, the ignition bein effected by an unico, jug-device' acting on t e firingpin in the breech piece. This offers the advanta e that the recoil acts on a member of consi erable mass which is projected in the opposite direction to the recoil and which thus possesses considerable kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of this member must first of all b e destroyed and thereby a considerable part of the recoil is consumed. The breech piece must moreover, be returned to its rear position and Vfinally the spring which projects it has to' be compressed beforea new shot can be fired by the mani ulation of the trigger. This destruction o the kinetic energy of a forwardly moving mass is a particular feature of the present invention and, in combination with the aforesaid advanced ignition and the extension of the cartridge chamber, enables automatic firearms of large caliber, thus having a greater powder charge, to be manufactured.

By employlng a breech spring of the necessarystrength and by the use of a sufficiently heavy breech piece., its kinetic energy may also be utilized to increase the velocity of the shot. Y

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which-f- Figure 1 is a longitudinal .vertical sectional view showing the breech and firing mechanism of an automatic fire-arm, only such parts being illustrated as are necessary to clearly understand the present invention. Fig. 2 shows the same in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is an end view of the breech piece as seen from the left of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite end of the breech piece and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the maga/zine.

The breech case gis closed at the rear by a screw-threaded cap y bearing against sprin In lgs. 1 and 2 the breech plece or bolt a, situated within the breech case is shown in the position it assumes after being drawn back by theI handle b so that the awl c engages behind the shoulder m. T` e pawl c 1s held in the position shown in Fig. by a spring lw and is released by the actuation of ridge chamber without being damthe lefver fv. At the front end of the bolt a is a plunger d which is tted at the front with a spring-catch n apd terminates at the rear in a conical part t adjoining the bolt a. The conical part t is complemental to a hollow conical part t1 in the end g1 of the breech case r/ in' which is4 screwed the barrel Z which is provided with a cartridge chamber m. -Inside the bolt ais a firing pin la which is prevented from automatically moving forward by a spring u.k

A hammer h engages behind the firing lpin k and the rear end of the bolt a has a groove s in the same plane as a shoulder h1, on the hammer k. In the same plane is also situ-l ated a pawl i which is secured to the breech case g by a spring 1, and projects through an opening 2 in the breech case. Laterally of the breech is mounted the magazine a containing the cartridges p with their cases p1 each of which has a neck at its rear end terminating in a diskl e of a smaller diameter than the cartridge case p1.

' against the innermost cartridge p, pushing it into' the cartridge chamber m, the hollow conical part t1 guiding the cartridge and the disk e engaging behind the catch n on the plunger d. The plunger fits tightly in the cartridge chamber lmas indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and covers a considerable distance within the cartridge chamber m before the conical part t of the bolt can abut against the hollow conical part t1 on the breech case. During the forward movement` of the bolt a, and as soon as the groove s comes in front of the pawl z', the latter enters the groove s under the action of the spring l and actuates the hammer l1, when the plunger d has entered the cartridge chamber m but before it has ended its forward movement. The firing pin lc is thus driven forward against the action of the spring u and effects the ignition. `At the moment of ignition the bolt a is still in lhandle b when forward movement but it now moves against the force of the powder gases and is thereby retarded, the pressure of the gases returning the bolt a against the action of the spring f so that finally the pawl c automatically springs behind the shoulder au; It.

is thus only necessary to manipulate the putting the fire-arm in readiness for action. i

The invention moreover enables the velocity of the shot to beV increased although the bolt is not locked in its forward position, for which purpose the kinetic energy of the bolt, which is dependent on the weight of the bolt and on the bolt spring, should be so great that it overcomes the initial pressure' of the powder gases, the bolt being first brought to a state of rest by the maximum gas pressure.

The length of the cartridge chamber m in the barrel YZ must be such that the projectile ywill leave Athe barrel Z before the cartrid ecase p1 is withdrawn out of the cartri ge chamber m by the catch n. On' its returnl the cartridge case runs against the ejector vo and is ejected.

. I claim: i

1. In an automatic re-arm the combina` tion of a breech chamber, a 'cartridge chamber of greater length than the cartridge at the V.front *end of said breech chamber, a breech piece movable in said breech chamber, a projection onthe front end of said breech vpiece adapted to accurately fit into said cartridge chamber, means for rejectingsaid breech piece toward the ront, 'a

irmg pin carried by said 'breech' piece and pin .carried `bysaid breech piece and auto' matic means forinsuring the actuation of,

said pin shortly Abefore said breech piece lcompletes its forward movement, means for automatically locking said breech pie in Vits rear position, and mechanism for re eas.- ing said breech piece. 3'

3. In an automatic 'fire-arm the combination of a breech chamber, a cartridge cham-` ber of greater length than the cartridge at the front end of said breech chamber, said cartridge chamber terminating at its rearin a conical part, a breech piece movable in said breech chamber and having a conical shoulder and a reduced part in front of said shoulder adapted to accurately t into said cartridge chamber, means for projecting said breech piece toward the front, a firing pin carried by said breech piece and automatic means for insuring the actuation of said pin shortly before said breech piece completes its forward movement.

4. In an automatic fire-arm the combination of a breech chamber, a cartridge chamber of greater length than the cartridge at the actuation piece movable in said breech chamber, a

`projection on the front end of said breech piece adaptedto. accurately `fit into said cartridge chamber, a spring for projectmg said breech 'piece toward the front, a catch adapted to arrest said breech iece in its rear position, mechanism for ire easin said catch, a firing-pin can'ied by said reech piece, a hammer on said breech piece adaptf ed" to strike said pin, and means for automatically actuating said hammer shortly before said breech plece completes its forward movement.

5. In an automatic fire-arm the combination of a breech chamber, a cartridge chamber ofl greater length than the cartridge at the front end of said breech chamber, a breech piece movable in said breech chamber,'a projection on the front end of said breech piece adapted to accurately fit into said cartridge chamber, a spring for projecting said breech piece toward the front, a catch adapted to arrest said breech iece in its rear position, mechanism for re easing said catch, a firing-pin carried by said breech piece, a hammer on said breech piece adapted to strike said pin, and a detent secured to said breech chamber in such a position as to actuate said hammer shortly before said breech piece completes its forward movement. y

6. In an automatic fire arm, a breech chamber, a cartridge chamber, a movable breech piece adapted to move forward to press the cartridge into the cartridge cham- `ber and automatic means for firing the cartridge shortly before it is pressed into final position, whereby the kinetic energy of the breech piece is such that, after being overcome by the powder gases, the pressure of the gases is just sufficient to return said breech piece.

7. In an automatic fire-arm, a breech chamber, a cartridge chamber, a movable breech piece adapted to move forward -to press the cartridge into the cartridge chamber and automatic means for firing the cartridge shortly before it is pressed into final position, whereby the kinetic energy of the breech piece is such that the initial pressure of the powder gases is overcome by said breech piece and the latter only brought to rest by the maximum gas pressure.

8. 1n an automatimfire-arm the combination of a breech chamber, acartridge chamber of greater length than the cartridge at the front end of said breech chamber, a breech piece movable in said breech chamber, a projection on the frontend of said breech piece adapted to accurately fit into said cartridge chamber, means for projecting said breech piece toward the front, a firing pin carried by said breech piece and automatic means for insu-ring' the actuation of said pin shortly beforesaid breech piece completes itsforward movement, andl a spring catch on the end ofv said breech piece adapted to engagea reduced head on the cartridge and to it between the head thereof and the cartridge chamber.

9. In an automatic fire-arm the combination of a breech chamber, a cartridge chamber of greater length thanthe cartridge at the front end of said breech chamber, said cartridge chamber terminating. at its rear in a conical part, a breech piece movable in said breech chamber and having a conical shoulder and a reduced part in front of said shoulder adapted to accurately fit into said cartridge chamber, means for in said breech piece toward the ront, a irlng pin carried by said breech piece and automatic means for insuring the actuation of said pin shortly before said breech piece completes its forward movement, and a spring catch on the end of said breech piece adapted to engage a reduced head on the cartridge and to fit between .the head thereof and the cartridge chamber.

10. In an automatic fire-arm the combination of a breech chamber, a cartridge chamber of greater length than the cartridge at the front end of said breech chamber, a breech piece movable in said breech chamber, a projection on the front end of said breech piece adapted to accurately fit into said cartridge chamber, a spring for projecting said breech piece toward the front, a catch adapted to arrest said breech iece in its rear position, mechanism for reeasing .said catch, a firing-pin carried by said breech-piece, a hammer on said breech piece adapted to strike said pin, and means for automatically actuating said hammer shortly before said breech piece completes its forward movement, and a spring catch on the end of said breech iece adapted to engage a reduced head on t e cartridge and to fit between the head thereof and the cartridge chamber.

11. In an automatic fire arm, a breech chamber, a cartridge chamber, a movable breech piece adapted to move forward to press the cartridge into the cartridge chamber and automatic meansfor firing the cartridge shortly before it is pressed into final position, whereby the kinetic energy of the breech piece is such that, after being overlcome by the powder ases, the pressure of the gases is just su cient to return said breech piece, and a spring catch on the end of said breech piece adaptedvto engage areduced head on the cartridge and to fit between the head thereof and the cartridge chamber.

12. In an automatic fire-arm, a breech chamber, a cartridge chamber, a movable breech piece adapted to move forward to press the cartridge into the cartridge chamroj ectv ber and autonrnaticmeans for firing the cer- /tridge shortly before it' is pressedinto final position, whereby the kinetic ener of the breech piece is such that the initia pressure of the powder gases is overcome by said. breech piece and -the latter only brought to rest by the maximum gas pressure, and Va, spring' catch on the e11dof said breech piece adapted to engage a reduced head on the En testimony whereof 1 ax in presence of two Wimesses.V Y

l Withesses:

my sighature" REmHoLD BECKER j MAX Bumm. 

